SOUND-RealPlayer

Addendum Updated 20 Dec 00

You can now get a source rpm of Realplayer 7.0.3 from http://huxley.real.com/real/player/unix/unix.html?src=rpbform
Or from http://scopes.real.com/real/player/unix/unix.html?src=rpbform
Choose the Linux 2.x (libc6 i386) rpm

The download will be called rp7_linux20_libc6_i386_cs1_rpm . You need, for some strange reason, to rename it before it will install, and also to remove the old version first. So, in a text console su to root then do
mv rp7_linux20_libc6_i386_cs1.rpm rp7.linux20.libc6.i386.cs1.rpm (this should be 1 line).
rpm -e rvplayer-5.0-7
If you are running eD2.4. If you are updating LTP then
rpm -e RealPlayer-7.0-2 would be a better bet.
Install the new rpm with
rpm -ivh rp7.linux20.libc6.i386.cs1.rpm
You'll probably get a message like
Xlib: connection to ":0.0" refused by server
Xlib: Client is not authorized to connect to Server
Failed to open your X display. Please try setting your DISPLAY environment variable and try again.
Ignore it.

Now to finish off the installation and install the mime types.
Go back to being a normal user and cd to your home directory then type the following then your root password
su -mc 'realplay'
This should start up RealPlayer. From the RealPlayer Help menu select Mime Type/Plugin Install... Check all boxes and select /usr/local/bin for the Plugin Helper Soft Link directory.
This puts the helper program rpnphelper in /usr/local/bin and also the two text files mimeinstall.results and plugininstall.results in your home directory. You might like to glance through these...

There is a forum supporting RealPlayer on Linux at http://realforum.real.com/cgi-bin/unixplayer/wwwthreads.pl

Tested on eD2.4. Enjoy... pam.roberts@btinternet.com

End of Addendum...

Author: Edith Frost with much help from the nice folks on the Caldera Users mailing list

Tested on Caldera eDesktop 2.4, using KDE 1.1.2 and Netscape 4.73

Following is a step-by-step guide to getting RealPlayer 7 working with Caldera eDesktop and Netscape, enabling you to hear internet radio stations and other streaming audio, simply by clicking on links in your browser window.

Preparing your computer...

Log yourself into KDE (as user, not root).  Check your system to be sure you have the necessary support...

• System sounds should be enabled and working
  (go to K -> Settings -> Sound -> System Sounds to be sure)
   
• Internet connectivity should be working, and the latest version of Netscape should be installed, preferably using the RPM on Caldera's FTP site
   
• Swap partition should be activated (run free at the command line if you're not sure)
   
• All older versions of RealAudio should be removed from your system.  You'll want to check Kpackage and delete the "rvplayer" that gets installed by default with eDesktop.

Downloading RealAudio...

Get the RealPlayer installer on this page.  Fill in the form with your e-mail address, country, CPU, language and modem speed.  Under "OS", choose the version that says "Linux 2.0 (libc6i386) Self-Extracting (beta)". (Other versions may work just fine, but that's the one I used for the purposes of this SxS.)  Save the file to your computer and make a mental note as to where it's going.
 

Install time!

Open a terminal window (i.e. Konsole).
Type this:
  xhost +LOCAL:
You should get a message that says "non-network local connections being added to access control list".

Now you need to su into a root prompt.  Just type:
  su -
...and enter the password.  Now type this:
  export DISPLAY=:0.0

Next, navigate to the directory where you downloaded the bin-file, i.e....
  cd /home/myusername/Desktop/

Now make your file executable by typing:
  chmod a+x rp7_linux20_libc6_i386_b2.bin

Then launch the installer by typing...
  ./rp7_linux20_libc6_i386_b2.bin

The installer window should pop up now.  Press "Accept" if you agree to their terms.
Now you'll be prompted to enter a destination directory.  Change it to say:
  /opt/RealPlayer7
...and click "Finish".

A new window will eventually pop up asking you to register your mime types and install your plugin.
Make sure all the boxes are checked, and choose
  /usr/local/bin
...as your Plugin Helper Soft Link directory.

Click "Finished", "Next", "Okay".

The installer will ask you to complete a registration card, then ask you about your internet connection speed.  Click "Finished" when you're done.  The installer will complete its operations and launch the RealPlayer's welcome message.  If you're online, it will also launch a Real.com page in Netscape -- if you get an error message due to not being connected, don't worry about it.

Go back to the console window and hit Control-C.  This will close down the RealAudio window for you, thereby avoiding a segmentation fault that would have happened if you'd closed down RealAudio directly.  (Jeez!)
Now you may delete the bin-file if you want to save space on your computer.
To do that, type:
  rm rp7_linux20_libc6_i386_b2.bin
 

Making an icon...

If you want to open RealAudio from your KDE menu, panel, desktop or what have you, you'll need to create your own shortcut.  I.e., to create an icon in the KDE menu, open a super-user browser window...
  K -> System -> File Manager (Super User Mode)
Enter the root password and navigate your way to
  /opt/kde/share/applnk/Multimedia
Right-click inside the folder window and select
  New -> Application
Rename the file to real.kdelnk.  Go to the "Execute" tab, and in the slot labeled "Execute", enter...
 /opt/RealPlayer7/realplay
Now go to the "Application" tab.  In the slot labeled "Comment" and also the one labeled "Name (in your language)" you can put:
  RealPlayer 7
Now click "OK" to save your changes.
Right-click on your panel (the long icon-bar at the bottom of your screen) and hit "Restart".
Your new icon for RealPlayer should now appear the Multimedia folder on your KDE panel menu.
 

Installing the mime-types as user...

You've already installed the mime-types KDE will need, but only as root... you have to do it again for each of your usernames.  Open up RealPlayer using the icon you just created.  Hit "Help", then "Mime Type/Plugin Install".  Uncheck the "Install plugin" box but leave the other boxes checked.  Click "Finished", then "Okay".

At this point you're going to need to close all your programs, log out of KDE and restart your X-server.  You might want to bookmark this page first, so you can find your way back to finish the instructions!  Restarting your X-server is the necessary step that kicks in all your new mime-types, allowing you to hook your RealPlayer seamlessly into your Netscape browser.

Congratulations, you're now ready to listen to all sorts of streaming audio files with your new RealPlayer.  Time to try it out... I've assembled a small list of links for your testing pleasure.
 

• RealAudio streaming is a format that's often used to deliver radio and music content on the web.  You can test this by tuning into the grand-daddy of all freeform radio stations, WFMU out of Jersey City.  Click on the link that says "G2 Audio".
   
• HTTP-streaming is the poor man's RealServer.  This devolutionary technology can be tested on my own sounds page
   
• MP3 streaming can be tested at MP3.com
   
• MP3 playlists are used at Live365.com
   
• You can test your RealVideo capabilities at the CourtTV website. Click the "RealPlayer 28.8" link.

Trouble with your mime-types?

If you click on the links and get an error message, or if the wrong application starts up, then you may need to hand-edit your mime-types in Netscape.  To do this, go to Edit -> Preferences -> Navigator -> Applications.  Look through the list of mime-types, and if you find one that needs to be altered, just select it and hit "Edit".  In the slot labeled "Application", type this:
  /opt/RealPlayer7/realplay %u

Here's a list of mime-types to check for if you have problems...
 

I would very much appreciate any comments, additions and/or suggestions you might have on these instructions!  Write to me at edithfrost@yahoo.com.